Roxlee

Spanning from 1971 to 1987, in rural areas under the Marcos regime, a poor farming family struggle to overcome challenges brought on by corruption and greed for power.

Three stories, all first times

The lives of a matriarch, her two sons, and her niece are never the same again as they come to terms with an indiscretion in the family. A pivotal decision is made and a downward spiral ensues wherein the outcome can be no less than earth-shattering.

Starting out as a cartoonist for Jingle Magazine, Roxlee became a household name through the widely popular 'Cesar Asar' strip for Manila Bulletin. This film version includes footage from the short film Tito's Wedding, vividly portraying an aimless, idle life set in the small town in the Philippines, interwoven with keen observation on the social-political dilemma of the nation.

It is 1989. After losing his home, Allan Borromeo moves back into his mother’s house in Eden Homes, an upper middle class subdivision, with his wife Donna and teenage son Jasper. Here, their lives will change—Allan gets involved in a marijuana grow-op, Donna has an affair with their gardener, and Jasper experiences his first love and heartbreak. But unknown to the homeowners, a half-man, half-snake creature lurks and peers into their lives via home videos secretly recorded by Its creator, Waldo, a mad scientist.

In dreary Porac Pampanga, a young man, Daniel, abandons his motherland after winning the biggest cash prize in the history of Philippine lottery. Five years later, he is searching for home and redemption through the people that make up his past. With each visit, his story unfolds like the last digit of a winning combination.

A wounded activist ends up in a toilet and meets two members of the oppressed masses whose only reality is living on toilet fees.

A black comedy film, which focuses on two film workers, Raffy, the clapper, and Dido, a utility boy. Both share the same dream: to direct their own films someday. Their lives as mere "small production people" took a different turn when, together with the people in the unit van they were riding,had an encounter with armed men. Their co-workers were killed, and the two of them were forced to drive the unit van out of fear until it ran out of gas. The van contains equipment for movie production like cameras, lights and film stocks. They ended up in a secluded barrio not yet reached by modern technology, and therefore, the townsfolk knew nothing of the movie industry.

A story about a ten-year-old boy whose dream is to become a movie star. Pepot, the dreamer, is surrounded by people who are equally dazzled by the movie world from his own mother to the principal in his school to the impersonators in the neighborhood carnival. Coming from a poor family, Pepot overcomes adversity to have a chance at fulfilling his dream. He tackles school bullies, a strict teacher, and an unwelcoming world that fail to comprehend his intense desire to become a star. The story happens in the '70s when superstars brightened the film world in Pepot's country.

Documentary profiling the directors involved in the loose Philippine New Wave filmmaking movement.

1901, Balangiga. Eight-year-old Kulas flees town with his grandfather and their carabao to escape General Smith's Kill & Burn order. He finds a toddler amid a sea of corpses and together, the two boys struggle to survive the American occupation.

In this whimsical historical fresco, a counterpoint to today’s urgent political issues, the figure of the Filipino revolutionary Rizal is revisited in the light of early silent films.

Jingle Chordbook Magazine, first published in 1970, promptly taught a generation of Filipinos to play the guitar. Its story also explores how a small independent publication survived the weight of its time – the dark Martial Law years – and how it inspired the Filipino youth to think for themselves and wield the guitar like a weapon. The documentary “Jingle Lang Ang Pahina” tells the story of Jingle, its ragtag crew, and its loyal fans in a rambling, multi-layered narrative told in different voices and perspectives by the writers, artists, fans, collectors, musicians, freaks.

Based on the book of pen and ink illustrations and drawings with written verses. A mixture of monologues and performances from the Birdman as he confronts his enemies who are trying to destroy him and his environment.

Pandanggo has three stories with parallel themes converging in one event, the Kasilonawan Festival in Obando: a career woman learning to dance tango who is torn between her dance partner and live-in partner has to choose the man who will satisfy her dream of raising a family; a wife whose wish to conceive a baby boy to make her husband happy brings her feet to the festival, but fate has other plans of bringing the child into her life; and a modern woman who, amidst her medical condition that might render her childless for the rest of her life, finds connection with an ancient lore about fertility.

A post-silent film on the travails and camaraderie of King Black, King Red, King Blue, King Yellow, King Green, King Purple, & King Orange, the seven rainbow [bahag-hari] kings [hari] of ethnic g-string [bahag] descent. Bouncing in their kombi van, from nature’s forest to the city’s jungle, the Bahag Kings descend from being noble rulers to village idiots as they search high & low for the missing “Wala” [Nothing]. And see how they handled a true-to-life police arrest.

Synopsis: Dagohoy plays a flute near a river when disrupted by an ethereal voice and the tragic news of his brother's death. Desperate for a proper burial, he pleads with the reluctant Friar for blessing, leading to a disagreement and Dagohoy's injury. A kind villager found Dagohoy helplessly and tended his wound. Afterwards, a 'spirit' visited Dagohoy in his dream. The following day, they seek Tamblot, a male Babaylan and revolutionary leader, to further heal Dagohoy's wounds. While performing the ritual of renewal and baptizing the new resistance fighters, the Friar saw the traditional baptism. He disapproves and challenges Tamblot, leading to a fight. After some time, while still constantly visited by the 'spirit,' the revolutionaries prepare for a significant uprising led by Dagohoy. Their battle cry for justice signals the beginning of 85 years of revolution.

Juan shared his food to a man. But the man wants more and steals his food while he was asleep.

Juan Baybayin searches for the early alphabet of the Filipino and the journey takes him to different kind of adventures. A personal insights of the filmmaker regarding the baybayin-the early Filipino writings before the Spanish colonizers came to the island.

Starting out as a cartoonist for Jingle Magazine, Roxlee became a household name through the widely popular 'Cesar Asar' strip for Manila Bulletin. This film version includes footage from the short film Tito's Wedding, vividly portraying an aimless, idle life set in the small town in the Philippines, interwoven with keen observation on the social-political dilemma of the nation.

Imahe Nasyon is a groundbreaking, conceptual omnibus film by 20 alternative filmmakers who were tasked to present their personal visions on national issues. Renowned line producers Jon and Carol Red hatched the idea of revisiting the 1986 EDSA revolution, challenging directors to answer the question "What happened after 1986?" with a short film not longer than five minutes each. Despite individual techniques, the same goal is shared: to depict a truthful image of the nation at present.

Imahe Nasyon is a groundbreaking, conceptual omnibus film by 20 alternative filmmakers who were tasked to present their personal visions on national issues. Renowned line producers Jon and Carol Red hatched the idea of revisiting the 1986 EDSA revolution, challenging directors to answer the question "What happened after 1986?" with a short film not longer than five minutes each. Despite individual techniques, the same goal is shared: to depict a truthful image of the nation at present.

A clashing collage of archival and found footage, presenting the colonial Philippine society in a sarcastic tone.

The trolley is a rail trolley; it moves by hand power over an old railway and is used as illegal transport by poor people in Manila. The trolley brings the film into contact with the trolley driver and his customers, and through that, it shows a cross-section of society, or better the poor part of society.

Based on the book of pen and ink illustrations and drawings with written verses. A mixture of monologues and performances from the Birdman as he confronts his enemies who are trying to destroy him and his environment.

A man crawls on the street of Manila at the height of EDSA Revolution.

Like talking to oneself - some words make sense, some are nonsense.

Synopsis: Dagohoy plays a flute near a river when disrupted by an ethereal voice and the tragic news of his brother's death. Desperate for a proper burial, he pleads with the reluctant Friar for blessing, leading to a disagreement and Dagohoy's injury. A kind villager found Dagohoy helplessly and tended his wound. Afterwards, a 'spirit' visited Dagohoy in his dream. The following day, they seek Tamblot, a male Babaylan and revolutionary leader, to further heal Dagohoy's wounds. While performing the ritual of renewal and baptizing the new resistance fighters, the Friar saw the traditional baptism. He disapproves and challenges Tamblot, leading to a fight. After some time, while still constantly visited by the 'spirit,' the revolutionaries prepare for a significant uprising led by Dagohoy. Their battle cry for justice signals the beginning of 85 years of revolution.

Originally a three-part experimental film, respectively titled SPIT, WORDS AND OUTAKES..., and OPTIK, combining animation, illustration, found footage and liquid mercury.

An advocation for a new and personal take on the alphabet reveals multi-layered, comical meanings. ABCD is an experimental animation, decidedly crude in approach and part socio-political commentary and surrealist whimsy.

Munch's Scream appears sporadically in the streets of Manila.

Juan shared his food to a man. But the man wants more and steals his food while he was asleep.

An oil pastel animation which explores different subjects, mostly focusing on the Philippine environment.

Animated film with several bizarre scenes.

Animated film with several bizarre scenes.

Manila Scream Expanded combines three recent short films by Philippine underground filmmaker Roxlee: Manila Scream, Yours Trolley, and Slicing Art. The film and its maker and protagonist take us on an idiosyncratic journey through the streets of Manila.

Inkplay, playing with colors of ink as they move and spread like liquids.

Various images appear now and then from a box.

A serene but critical look at what indiscriminate urbanisation has done to the natural environment.

A restless lizard and a man move faster and faster to a punk beat.

A Roxlee animation short.

Originally a three-part experimental film, respectively titled SPIT, WORDS AND OUTAKES…, and OPTIK, combining animation, illustration, found footage and liquid mercury.